Is It Wrong to Explore the Dungeon Even Though I’m Overpowered? (Danmachi SI- WC) (Patreon)

Chapter 17: Denatus

While I traveled southeast with Ram and Est to stop a tragedy from taking place, unknown to me things were changing in the city of Orario with the news of my record-breaking level-up.

Be it deity, adventurer, or regular citizen, the city was abuzz with chatter about the remarkable feat.

For the top Familias in the city though, who had reigned ever since taking down the Hera and Zeus Familias in the past, it was a stark reminder for them that such people with monstrous talent still existed in the world and some were not too happy about it.

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Loki Familia – Twilight Manor

Inside the grand halls of one of Orario’s most powerful Familias, a rare silence hung in the air.

“Level 2… in one week?!” Tiona nearly dropped her tankard, slamming it on the table with wide eyes.

Tione leaned forward, scoffing. “That’s not just fast—that’s freakish. He had to be hiding something.”

Finn steepled his fingers, deep in thought. “It’s not impossible. Just… unprecedented.”

Bete’s ears twitched. He didn’t speak—a rare sight in itself—but his scowl said enough.

Riveria’s brows drew together as she murmured, “Could he have falsified his stats…?”

Ais sat quietly, her golden eyes fixed on the table. Not out of disinterest—no, it was curiosity. Quiet, intense curiosity.

Loki, lounging in her chair, finally clicked her tongue. “Tch. That damn pipsqueak picked up a real monster, huh? She’s gonna be insufferable at Denatus tomorrow.”

Freya Familia – Top of Babel

From her lofty perch, Freya stood by the wide glass windows of her domain, watching the city pulse with life. A soft chuckle escaped her lips.

“As expected of my Odr~” she whispered, licking her lips as a warm blush colored her cheeks. The memory of him feeding her at the Hostess still lingered. That look in his eyes… the casual compliment… it had done more than make her heart flutter.

She turned to her Divine Mirror, willing it to show her the one she longed for.

A blur of clouds.

Then—him.

Reinhard, rocketing through the sky, a pink-haired maid in his arms. Her smile faltered.

‘Southeast? Where are you going, my beloved?’ she thought, narrowing her eyes.

Was he running? No—she dismissed the thought instantly. Reinhard wasn’t the type to flee. If he was moving, it was with purpose.

“Denatus is tomorrow…” she whispered to herself, lips curling back into a pleased smile. “I suppose I’ll learn more then. And I wouldn’t miss the moment he’s given a name worthy of the start of his legend.”

Behind her, Ottar stirred. “Freya-sama, is something wrong?”

She waved him off. “Not at all, Ottar. In fact… I’m very pleased.”

But as the mirror lingered on Reinhard’s retreating form, a flicker of possessiveness returned to her expression.

‘So many women…’ she thought, jealousy prickling at her core. ‘You’ll spoil me with worry, Reinhard.’

Ishtar Familia – Pleasure District

The intoxicating scent of perfume filled the room as Ishtar lounged among her girls, wine glass in hand.

“I hear a pretty little hero’s stealing the spotlight in town?” she purred, eyes narrowing.

One of her followers bowed low. “His name is Reinhard. Level 2 in a week.”

Ishtar’s lips curled into a dangerous smile. “Let’s see how pretty he is when he’s begging at my feet.”

Apollo Familia – Grand Estate

Applause echoed through the marble halls as Apollo clapped excitedly, stars practically in his eyes.

“Ooooh~! Such flair! Such promise! I simply must have him!” he sang, practically dancing.

Daphne groaned. “Apollo-sama… maybe we should let this one go?”

Cassandra just stared blankly, already picturing the future—and it was not good.

But Apollo ignored them both, already plotting another War Game.

Hephaestus Familia – Forge District

The ringing of hammers paused for a heartbeat.

Tsubaki grinned, leaning on her anvil. “Looks like that redhead’s stirring the pot.”

Hephaestus stood nearby, her lone eye clouded with concern.

‘He healed my eye. He never flinched at the sight of it… called me beautiful,’ she thought, fingers brushing the patch she wore more out of habit than need with a soft blush on her cheeks.

“He’s attracting attention from all sides now,” she murmured.

‘Please be careful, Reinhard… you don’t know what you’ve just stepped into.’

Hermes Familia – Somewhere in Orario

“Huhuhuhu interesting~ How interesting.” Hermes laughed to himself with an interested gleam in his eyes. “To think that dear old Hestia would find such a gem in this age.”

“I wonder what his future holds if this is only the beginning of his adventure?”

And in the Shadows…

Not every reaction made it to the streets.

In dimly lit backrooms, within alleyway whispers and secret gatherings, Reinhard’s name began to swirl.

Not just admiration.

Fear.

Envy.

Hatred.

In one week, he had become more than a name.

He had become a threat.

=====

(Following Day)

Denatus – The Hall of the Gods

The divine assembly room buzzed with heated chatter, celestial voices bouncing off the golden arches and marble columns. Gods and goddesses lounged on ornate thrones, wine and mirth temporarily forgotten in favor of the topic at hand.

Reinhard.

The mortal who had shaken Orario to its core.

“Level 2… in one week?!” Dionysus said slowly, disbelief thick in his voice. “You’re joking.”

“No joke,” Hermes confirmed, kicking back in his seat with a grin. “The Guild already processed it. The kid’s the real deal.”

Ganesha looked contemplative for once. “No one’s ever done that before. Not even the old legends. By the way… I AM GANESHA!”

In a quieter corner of the room, doing their best to ignore the divine ruckus, sat Hestia and Artemis. The former was busily shoveling food into her mouth at a breakneck pace, muttering about how it didn’t compare to Rein-kun’s cooking.

Hestia wore a beautiful white one-piece dress, while Artemis was clad in a sleek, elegant blue gown that turned more than a few divine heads—not that either of them noticed.

“Slow down, Hestia. You’re going to choke,” Artemis said, gently reprimanding her as she sipped from a cup of wine. Her cold glares made short work of any god or goddess foolish enough to try and approach them.

“I can’t help it,” Hestia mumbled with a full mouth, tears welling in her eyes. “This is how I cope with Rein-kun being gone.”

Artemis couldn’t argue with that. The wine in her hand was proof enough she wasn’t handling his absence as gracefully as she’d like to pretend.

“How am I supposed to last a whole week without Rein-kun’s delicious food!?” Hestia wailed, stuffing more food into her mouth with dramatic flair.

Rolling her eyes, Artemis shook her head. “Stop being dramatic. Rein made sure to leave us plenty of food.”

She was referring to the Pocket Space perk Rein had explained—an item storage where time was frozen inside.

“It’s not the same~,” Hestia whined between mouthfuls.

“As noisy as ever, huh?” a new voice cut in, making the two goddesses look up.

Hephaistos approached with a casual grace, dressed in a deep crimson dress that matched the wine in her hand. She offered them a faint smile, the eyepatch on her face still present for now.

“Hephaistos~!” Hestia perked up, beaming at her close friend and another goddess connected to her child through the shroud.

“Hello, Hephaistos. You look well,” Artemis greeted, her tone softening slightly in contrast to the scowls she gave nearly everyone else.

“Thanks,” Hephaistos replied, fingers brushing the spot where her eyepatch rested. She let out a small sigh, her expression thoughtful. “There’s no avoiding it now, huh?”

Both Hestia and Artemis shook their heads.

“Thought so,” Hephaistos said quietly. Straightening her posture, she offered the two a small, but sincere smile. “For whatever it’s worth, you both have my support—no matter what happens next. It’s the least I can do.”

“Thanks, Hephaistos~ You’re the best!” Hestia grinned, cheeks puffed from food but eyes shining.

“Your help is greatly appreciated, Hephaistos,” Artemis said, her tone still quiet but filled with genuine gratitude.

The murmur in the hall shifted sharply as a burst of laughter echoed from the entrance. Heads turned, and sure enough, Loki strolled in with her usual swagger, clad in a bold black outfit that clung to her frame. Her eyes narrowed with mischief as she scanned the room—until they landed on a certain tiny goddess dressed in white.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the world’s smallest goddess tryin’ to play with the big kids,” Loki smirked, sauntering toward Hestia and Artemis like she owned the place.

Artemis sighed and promptly drained the rest of her wine. “Here we go…”

Hestia sprang up from her seat, cheeks still stuffed with food. “Speak for yourself, you twig-bodied tomato! What wind blew your flat chest in here today, Loki?!”

A few gasps echoed around the room. Even Hermes nearly spat out his drink.

“Why you little—!” Loki’s eye twitched, but she kept her grin. “Still jealous, huh? You might have some bounce, but it doesn’t change the fact you’re a penniless pipsqueak running your Familia outta a glorified crate!”

“At least I don’t need a push-up dress just to pretend I have curves!” Hestia shot back with a smug grin.

Artemis buried her face in her hand. “I swear, you two are supposed to be goddesses.”

Hephaistos just stayed silent, already used to their antics

“Oh, please!” Loki scoffed, folding her arms and cocking a hip. “Don’t act like she’s better just ‘cause she found herself a rare gem. What was his name again? Rein-kun~?”

Hestia turned a deep crimson, and even Artemis’s face flushed slightly.

“D-Don’t call him that with your filthy voice! Rein-kun is pure! He’s not like the perverts you chase down the street every night!”

That one landed hard.

“Haaah?! Say that again, you glorified potato mascot!” Loki snapped, pointing dramatically. “One more word and I’ll—!”

“—throw another tantrum because you look like a man?” Hestia replied sweetly, eyes glinting with challenge.

“YOU—!”

By now, a circle of amused deities had formed around them. Some had even started placing bets on the outcome of the spat. The argument quickly devolved into the two goddesses pulling at each other’s cheeks with surprisingly aggressive force for beings of divine origin.

It didn’t last long. A minute later, Loki huffed and stormed off, red-cheeked with comically angry tears forming in the corners of her eyes. “Idiot,” she grumbled, tossing a final glare over her shoulder.

“Next time we meet, don’t let me see those tiny things!” Hestia shouted after her, rubbing her own red cheeks while pouting.

Unbeknownst to them, Freya had been watching the scene from her seat with quiet amusement. Her eyes glinted with interest, having caught the earlier comments about Reinhard being away for reasons still unknown.

Before round two could ignite, Hermes clapped his hands loudly, his voice cutting through the laughter and chaos.

“Alright, alright, everyone. Let’s get back on track. We’re not here for verbal war games—we’re here to give a certain rising star his nickname.”

Instantly, the atmosphere shifted. Divine eyes turned serious. The hall quieted as murmurs spread like wildfire through the assembly.

It was time.

“I have one!” Hestia shot her hand into the air like an over-eager student, beaming with pride before anyone else could speak. “Since my Rein-kun is so amazing with a sword, how about… Sword Saint!?”

A few murmurs rippled through the hall, gods and goddesses whispering the name to themselves, intrigued by its weight and elegance.

Then, to everyone’s surprise, Artemis stepped forward, her expression composed but resolute—rarely did she speak up in favor of any man.

“I second that suggestion,” she said clearly. “I’ve personally witnessed Hestia’s child spar. The way he wields his blade… it’s not just skill. It’s beauty in motion.”

The hall went still for a moment, stunned not only by her support, but the quiet admiration in her tone.

“I agree as well,” Hephaistos added, stepping beside them. “Sword Saint… it has a noble ring to it. Especially the ‘Saint’ part.”

She paused, her gaze flicking between Hestia and Artemis. At their subtle nods, Hephaistos reached up and, without fanfare, removed her eyepatch.

A sharp intake of breath swept through the room.

Her face—flawless. Her once-scarred eye now gleamed a brilliant red, unmarred by the deformity that had defined her for millenia.

The hall erupted into chaos.

Gods leapt to their feet, shouting questions and disbelief. Some craned their necks for a better look; others nearly tripped over themselves trying to approach. The noise was deafening, until a smooth, almost purring voice cut through the storm.

“Does this mean,” Freya drawled from her seat, eyes alight with dangerous curiosity, “that Hestia’s child… Reinhard, was it?—healed you, Hephaistos? He did what even divinity could not?”

All eyes turned to the red-haired goddess again.

“Yes,” Hephaistos said, calm but firm. “Reinhard used Mystery to perform what I can only describe as a miracle. My skin, my eye—everything was restored.”

A stunned silence fell.

And then, a storm of awe followed.

But amidst the commotion, one thing became clear—the name had stuck.

As the divine hall descended once more into chaos, with gods shouting over one another and speculations running rampant, Hestia stood still amidst the storm. Watching it all unfold, a knot tightened in her chest.

Had they made the right choice?

Revealing that detail—Hephaistos’s healed eye—was not a decision taken lightly. Even if they cloaked it under the excuse of “Mystery,” deep down, Hestia knew the truth would eventually unravel. Secrets never stayed buried for long, especially with Reinhard being an Adventurer.

And if the world ever discovered the true extent of Reinhard’s powers… she didn’t know what would happen. But the thought chilled her to the bone.

Not because she feared for herself.

But because she feared losing him. Her Rein-kun.

She was pulled from her spiraling thoughts by the gentle weight of a hand settling on her shoulder. She turned to see Artemis, her face calm but her eyes betraying the same unease Hestia felt.

“Have faith, Hestia,” Artemis’s voice echoed softly through their shared mental network, a connection made possible through Conjunction. “Rein will be alright. We just need to stand by him… and be strong enough to support him when the time comes.”

Before Hestia could respond, another hand joined Artemis’s on her other shoulder—Hephaistos, warm and steady. The red-haired goddess looked at Hestia with that rare softness only a few ever got to see.

“You’re not alone in this, Hestia.” Her voice was low, firm, comforting. “He helped me see the world again, gave me hope when I had none left and asked for nothing in return… If anything happens, I’ll stand by him—and by you. That’s a promise.”

Hestia’s eyes widened, shimmering slightly as she looked between her two closest companions.

A shaky smile broke across her face, and her voice was barely a whisper. “Thank you… both of you.”

The three goddesses stood there, united in quiet resolve as the divine world around them burned with curiosity and schemes.

But while the rest of Orario had just started to notice Reinhard, they had already chosen where they stood.

Right by his side.

=====

Amidst the storm of divine voices echoing across the grand hall, Freya sat with her usual poise—serene, yet electric with barely restrained interest. She swirled her wine gently in its crystal goblet, the crimson liquid catching the flickering divine lights above, but her eyes were fixed—not on the crowd, not even on Hephaistos—but on the sky above, as if she could see his form even now.

Reinhard. Her Odr.

The name now danced like wildfire across every tongue.

She had long since mastered the art of keeping her expression unreadable, but within those silver eyes burned a dangerous curiosity. And something else. Something stronger.

Desire. Longing. Possibly even love.

Reinhard.

A mortal? No—he was more than that. Far more. She had known it the moment her eyes first beheld him a week ago, though it already felt like a lifetime. Not for his face or his physique—though those certainly didn’t hurt—but because his soul screamed at her. Screamed that he was different. Even from the divine.

And now… healing Hephaistos?

Mystery or not, Freya wasn’t so easily fooled. The gods could lie—but their souls could not.

She'd watched every twitch of Hestia’s mouth, the way Artemis clutched her cup tighter, how Hephaistos refused to meet too many stares once her secret was out. They were all afraid—afraid of how the others would react.

Afraid of losing him.

That alone was telling.

She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on one delicate hand, the other tracing a lazy circle along the rim of her goblet.

"Sword Saint…" she whispered aloud, letting the name roll across her tongue. “What a fitting name~”

Her lips curved ever so slightly, eyes narrowing with a dangerous sort of happiness.

‘What else could you be hiding, my beloved…?’ she mused inwardly, barely restraining the urge to shiver in delight.

‘I can’t wait to find out~ The only question now is—where did you go, and what are you doing?’

Just imagining the possibilities—seeing him in action, unraveling those secrets with her own eyes—was nearly unbearable.

‘I was right… If you keep surprising me like this, I won’t be able to hold myself back~’